[The first 14 Written Answers should have been printed in the Official Report of Monday, 25th February.]Diploma in Veterinary State Medicine

The Countess of Mar: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When the diploma in veterinary state medicine ceased to be available to postgraduate students.

Lord Whitty: The diploma in veterinary state medicine ceased to be available to postgraduate students in 1979.

State Veterinary Service

The Countess of Mar: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What training methods and promotion criteria were used for the appointment of (a) divisional veterinary officers and (b) divisional veterinary managers prior to reorganisation; and what were their duties and responsibilities; and
	What training methods and promotion criteria were used for senior posts at the State Veterinary Service's Tolworth Centre prior to reorganisation; and what training methods and promotion criteria are currently used for senior posts in Page Street.

Lord Whitty: The criteria for promotion within the State Veterinary Service continues to be based on merit. Opportunities for training and career development are available to all staff and can be provided by colleagues, on-line, training branch, the Civil Service College and external providers where appropriate.
	Neither the criteria for promotion nor the provision of training to staff were affected by the relocation of HQ state veterinary staff from Tolworth to Page Street.
	The duties of divisional veterinary officers and divisional veterinary managers include management and organisation of financial and manpower resources, operational direction of animal health and welfare issues, and liaison and representation with outside bodies. The change in title and grade was made following the restructuring of the SVS and the MAFF regional organisation in 1995 and reflected an increase in the resources being managed by the DVM when compared with a DVO.

Animal Health Bill

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether, in the light of the conclusions of the Joint Committee on Human Rights on the Animal Health Bill (HL Paper 67), they intend to collate and publish the responses they receive to the consultation on the Protocol published on 11 January before proceeding with the Committee stage of the bill.

Lord Whitty: The consultation period for proposals on the practical implementation of certain provisions in the Animal Health Bill, published on 11 January, will end on 15 March. The responses to this document will be collated and published as soon as practicable thereafter. No date has been announced yet for Lords Committee stage of the Animal Health Bill.

Emissions Reduction Scheme

Baroness Byford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the answer by Lord Whitty on the progress of the emissions reduction scheme on the 14 January (HL Deb, col. 828), what is the minimum number of participants below which the proposed emissions trading scheme will not be viable.

Lord Whitty: The Government's objectives in setting up a UK emissions trading scheme are cost-effective emissions reductions and to give UK business early experience of emissions trading. These objectives will be met providing there are sufficient participants to ensure competitive pressure in February's incentive auction. As 46 organisations are currently in the process of registering for the auction, the Government are confident that this will be case. Moreover, total participation in the scheme is not limited to those organisations entering through the February auction. There are 3,500 companies in climate change agreements, which can trade on the basis of their energy efficiency targets. There will also be opportunities to enter through approved emission reduction projects, or by simply buying and selling allowances.

Countryside Agency Website

Lord Greaves: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the Countryside Agency website showing the provisional maps of access land under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 should be improved to assist the process of locating and navigating between local areas and sites.

Lord Whitty: During the first two weeks of consultation on draft maps in the South East and lower North West mapping regions, the Countryside Agency's website received nearly 2 million hits. This high level of interest initially led to some visitors to the website experiencing delays in navigating the site. In response to the high level of demand, the agency has carried out improvements which have increased the ease and speed by which visitors can search and view the reduced scale maps of open country and registered common land.
	It appears that difficulties arise in navigating between local sites reached via the full England map—but that these problems do not occur if the "search" facility is used—and the agency is investigating the cause with a view to rectifying the problem.

Marine Stewardship Reports

Lord Greaves: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the statement by Lord Whitty on 6 February (HL Deb, cols. 635–36) that there will be "a series of reports that will address the full range of impacts placed on the marine environment", what is their programme and timetable for these marine stewardship reports; and what subjects each report will cover.

Lord Whitty: The first report will set out our vision for the sustainable development and conservation of the marine environment. It will be holistic, describe past achievements and contain new ideas for further work. We are aiming to publish the report in the spring. We will want to explore the scope and time-scales of future reports with stakeholders once the first report has been published.

Marine Stewardship Reports

Lord Greaves: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether their forthcoming marine stewardship reports will cover the British Isles (or parts thereof), the United Kingdom or a part or parts of the United Kingdom; and if so, which part or parts.

Lord Whitty: The first report will focus on the waters around the whole of the United Kingdom and the North East Atlantic region. It will also include UK overseas territories and describe what we are working to achieve in wider international fora.

Ainsdale National Nature Reserve

Lord Fearn: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When the moratorium on pine tree felling ends at the Ainsdale Nature Reserve at Southport and Formby; and whether there is to be any extension of this moratorium, should it be nearing its end.

Lord Whitty: English Nature will not be undertaking any further felling of the frontal pinewoods on the Ainsdale Sand Dunes National Nature Reserve until the autumn of 2003 at the earliest. The extent, timing and location of any further felling in this area will only be decided following further public consultation in 2003.

Ainsdale National Nature Reserve

Lord Fearn: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether English Nature has any plans to alter, improve or enlarge the site of special scientific interest established on the north-west coast of England in and around the Ainsdale Nature Reserve.

Lord Whitty: English Nature has no plans to modify the boundary of the Sefton coast site of special scientific interest that contains the Ainsdale National Nature Reserve.

Pesticides

Lord Beaumont of Whitley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will give details of any approved uses of pesticide chlorfenvinphos since the previously agreed revocation date of 31 December 2001 with reasons for each extension of approval beyond that date, the dates on which each extension was granted, and the periods of time for which each approval has been extended.

Lord Whitty: Since 31 December 2001, only one approval for chlorfenvinphos-containing products has been granted. The approval for the product, Birlane 24, has been extended from its original expiry date of 31 December until 25 July 2003. This has allowed an approval to continue for important uses on swedes and turnips.
	The extension was needed because of a difference between the UK and the EC review programmes with respect to the time allowed for withdrawn products to be used up by growers.
	Chlorfenvinphos has not been supported by the manufacturer in either programme, and under the normal terms of the UK review its approval would have expired on 31 December. The extension was granted to bring the approval into line with the expiry date in the EC, in order that UK growers would not be disadvantaged.

Pesticides

Lord Beaumont of Whitley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will state the reasons for the new condition of approval, announced by the Pesticide Safety Directorate on 19 December 2001, which restricts the approved rates of use for pesticide products containing carbendazim and thiophante-methyl which are used as a post-harvest dip treatment on apples and pears.

Lord Whitty: The maximum approved rates for these compounds were reduced as it became apparent that their continued use at these rates might result in an exceedence of the maximum residue level (MRL) on apples and pears. Such an exceedence would not result in a chronic risk to consumers. It is known, however, that the compounds are effective against apple and pear storage diseases at 50 per cent of the maximum approved rates, and it is already horticultural practice to use a 50 per cent rate. Action has therefore been taken to reduce the maximum approved rate by 50 per cent which still provides effective disease control, but which will not result in a breach of the MRL.

Foot and Mouth

Baroness Byford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many appeals were lodged each month during the foot and mouth disease outbreak against the valuation of slaughter stock, and for each figure (a) how many cases have been determined; (b) how many are proceeding; and (c) how many cases still awaiting action are more than three months old.

Lord Whitty: Information is not fully available in the form requested. The number of counter notices (appeals against valuation) received within the 14-day time limit is as follows:
	
		
			  Received 
			 March-June 2001 301 
			 July 42 
			 August 85 
			 September 41 
			 October 56 
			 November – 
			 December – 
			 January 2002 – 
			  
			 Total 525 
		
	
	Of the 525 cases, 151 have now been resolved.
	Due to the fact that there have been no cases of FMD for more than three months, all remaining 374 ongoing cases are more than three months old. However, these remaining cases are at various stages of investigation, or awaiting a response from the farmer. In seven of these cases, an arbitrator has been appointed or we have reached a joint agreement on the appointment of an arbitrator. The farmer or the department can refer the matter of the value of the disputed animal(s) to an arbitrator at any stage.
	In all cases of disputed foot and mouth valuations, including those received outside the statutory deadline, we are in correspondence with the farmers concerned.

Foot and Mouth

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many requests by letter, telephone or e-mail they have received from (a) formally constituted bodies such as local authorities; (b) individuals; and (c) businesses, proposing the establishment of a statutory public inquiry into the foot and mouth disease outbreak of 2001.

Lord Whitty: The Government have received a number of representations in a variety of forms on this subject. These have been from a number of sources—mainly county, district, borough and parish councils. The department has also received two petitions.

Foot and Mouth

Baroness Byford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord Whitty on 31 January (WA 58), how many animals have been slaughtered since the last confirmed foot and mouth disease outbreak.

Lord Whitty: Six thousand one hundred and twelve animals have been slaughtered since the last case of foot and mouth was diagnosed in the United Kingdom on 30 September 2001. These animals were slaughtered as dangerous contacts as a result of returning sero-positive blood samples.

Foot and Mouth

Baroness Byford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord Whitty on 31 January (WA 58), (a) how many animals were slaughtered in total, apart from those on infected premises, dangerous contacts premises and slaughter on suspicion premises; and (b) how many animals died but were not included in the slaughter figures, such as unborn lambs or calves.

Lord Whitty: As described in the Written Answer on 31 January, apart from those animals on infected premises, dangerous contacts premises and slaughter on suspicion premises, some two and a half million animals have been slaughtered as a result of the receipt of eligible applications under the livestock welfare disposal scheme and the light lambs disposal scheme.
	Young animals, which had been born before the time of slaughter, are included in the total figure of animals slaughtered for disease control purposes. No record was taken of unborn animals.

Formby Pinewoods: Protection of Red Squirrels

Lord Fearn: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What steps are being taken to protect the colony of red squirrels at Formby Pinewoods on the north-west coast of England.

Lord Whitty: English Nature, the National Trust, Sefton Borough Council and others, co-ordinated by Mersey Forest, have produced a Sefton Forest Plan that is currently with the Forestry Commission for approval. The plan aims to provide sustainable management of the pinewoods and optimal conditions for the red squirrel colony.

Rural: Definition

Lord Patten: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord Whitty on 5 February (WA 83), when they will announce the better set of definitions for urban and rural areas; and
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord Whitty on 5 February (WA 83), whether, for the time being, Ministers will define what they mean by rural when making announcements.

Lord Whitty: As we have made clear previously, the term "rural" can have a variety of applications in relation to landscape or land use or socio-economic issues. It would be convenient to have a single definition, but it might well fail to reflect reality and prove inflexible. We are working towards a better definition of urban and rural areas as explained in my Answer (WA 83; 5 February). For statistical purposes we generally use the definition developed by the Countryside Agency and where any other definition is being used we will endeavour to make that clear.

British-Irish Council

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the timetable for the development of the Council of the British Isles to the stage proposed in the Belfast agreement of 1998; on what dates the council has met since 1998; and when is the next meeting.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: The British-Irish Council brings together representatives of the British and Irish Governments, the devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and the authorities in Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man.
	The council has met at summit level twice since 1998; in December 1999 and November 2001. I have placed a copy of the communiqué issued after the November 2001 summit in the House Libraries. The council agreed that its next summit would be in Jersey in April 2002. In addition, the council has met in a number of sectoral formats over the past two years.

IRA: Training

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they know if any IRA training still takes place; and what steps they are taking in response.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: As the noble Lord will be aware, the Government do not comment on intelligence matters. However, good co-operation between the Police Service of Northern Ireland and the Garda and intelligence-led policing is continuing with the aim of frustrating any attempt to destroy the peace process.

Bus Lanes

Lord Bradshaw: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When the consultation on camera enforcement of bus lanes outside London is expected to be completed and the necessary orders to be made.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: Our target is to make the regulations this autumn.

Bus Lanes

Lord Bradshaw: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many construction and maintenance workers have been killed or seriously injured on motorways and trunk roads in England and Wales in the last three years for which figures are available.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: Following is the available information for England and Wales.
	
		
			  Deaths Major injuries 
			 Work processes 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01p 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01p 
			 Road repairs/surfacing/maintenance (a) 3 3 8 79 68 52 
			 Road verge maintenance — — 1 14 7 11 
			  
			 Total 3 3 9 93 75 63 
		
	
	p—provisional.
	(a)—road surfacing, road marking, road repairs, highway maintenance, sewer maintenance.
	Note:
	The figures relate to employees and self-employed in the period 1 April–31 March.
	Source:
	The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) 1995.

Refugees and Asylum Seekers: Racial Attacks

Lord Dholakia: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the extent of racial attacks on refugees and asylum seekers is monitored; and what are the figures for the last available period.

Lord Rooker: No information is collected centrally on racial attacks on refugees and asylum seekers.
	Since April 2000, the National Asylum Support Service (NASS) has provided support in the form of accommodation and/or subsistence to asylum seekers who are destitute on arrival in the United Kingdom. The responsibility for formally tackling harassment lies with the police and the relevant local authority. NASS's role in investigating racial harassment is to establish whether it is appropriate to provide alternative accommodation because there is a significant risk of violence occurring, if the person were to remain in their current accommodation.
	The number of allegations of this type reported to the NASS investigations team for the period January 2001 to December 2001 is set out in the table below as follows:
	
		
			  2001 
			 January 47 
			 February 71 
			 March 66 
			 April 64 
			 May 78 
			 June 74 
			 July 71 
			 August 103 
			 September 72 
			 October 122 
			 November 93 
			 December 47

Police Authorities in North-West England: Budgets

Lord Chan: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will provide a breakdown of the budget set aside in the current financial year for the five police forces in north-west England (Cheshire, Merseyside, Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Cumbria) broken down into: staff costs, non staff-costs, headquarters staff costs, neighbourhood policing costs, and car fleet expenditure costs.

Lord Rooker: The table below shows the budgets set by police authorities in the North West for 2001–02.
	
		
			 £ million Cheshire Merseyside GMP Lancashire Cumbria 
			 Expenditure 
			 Police salaries 69.658 145.082 231.526 113.645 36.953 
			 Other staff 19.146 37.405 61.892 30.845 13.129 
			 Other employee expenses 1.222 3.316 0.993 1.327 0.698 
			 Transport 3.222 3.913 7.007 4.916 1.594 
			 Other costs 33.670 88.051 137.332 60.228 23.085 
			  
			 Total 126.918 277.767 438.750 210.961 75.459 
			 Income 
			 Crime Fighting Fund Grant 1.890 4.205 3.316 2.950 0.927 
			 Other grants 0.351 2.726 5.514 0.608 2.142 
			 Other income 2.879 4.426 19.088 11.218 1.690 
			  
			 Total 5.120 11.357 27.918 11.826 4.759 
			 Net expenditure 121.798 266.410 410.832 199.135 70.700 
			 Contributions to (from) reserves — (1.346) 0.300 — (0.100) 
			  
			 Net budget 121.798 265.064 411.132 199.135 70.600 
		
	
	Source:
	CIPFA: Police Statistics—Estimates 2001–02.
	Setting the budget and allocating resources for a police authority area is a matter for the authority and the chief officer.

Facial Biometrics Software: Human Rights and Civil Liberties Implications

The Earl of Northesk: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether there are no human rights implications or civil liberties issues attendant to the use of facial biometrics software in conjunction with closed circuit television, which is currently being trialled by Essex police.

Lord Rooker: Closed circuit television (CCTV) must be used fairly, lawfully and with due respect for personal privacy. The Data Protection Act 1998 provides a statutory framework for the regulation of public space CCTV schemes.
	The scheme at Southend on Sea, run by Southend on Sea Borough Council, involves biometrics in the form of facial recognition software and automatic number-plate reading equipment. The council is aware of its obligations under the Data Protection Act and
	Human Rights Act and accordingly operates its scheme under a code of practice based on that produced by the Information Commissioner. In addition, strict confidentiality is enforced and any copy of any data is subject to strict control with an associated audit trail.

Incitement to Racial Hatred: Criminal Proceedings

Lord Alton of Liverpool: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why no criminal proceedings for incitement to racial hatred have been brought against Abu Hamza, Abdulla el Faisal, Omar Bakri Mohammed and Abu Qatada, arising out of their alleged distribution of inflammatory anti-Semitic material.

Lord Rooker: The police are responsible for the investigation of criminal offences including incitement to racial hatred under Part III of the Public Order Act 1986. The police and the Security Service attach a high priority to monitoring and countering any possible activities in the country by extremists. Any credible information is fully investigated. The police may at any time before, during or at the conclusion of an investigation make a request for advice or submit a file to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). The CPS will consider any file submitted by the police with a view to determining whether there is sufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction. If the CPS determines that there is sufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction in relation to a charge under the Act, the papers must be submitted to the Attorney-General for consent to prosecute.
	Of the list of names mentioned, Abdulla el Faisal was arrested by police and charged on 20 February 2002 with soliciting to murder. It would not be appropriate for me to comment any further on individual cases.

Seat Belt Offences

Lord Janner of Braunstone: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What percentage of fixed penalty notices, prosecutions and written warnings issued in England and Wales in 2000 for not wearing seat belts related to (a) the driver's seat; (b) the front passenger seat; and (c) back seats respectively.

Lord Rooker: Information held centrally does not distinguish between front and rear seat belt offences. Overall for seat belt offences in England and Wales in 2000 there were 155,300 fixed penalty notices issued; 5,700 proceedings at magistrates' courts; and 6,200 written warnings given.

Illegal firearms

The Earl of Shrewsbury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What were the calibre, class or type, makes and model of the five shotguns seized by the Metropolitan Police during Operation Trident.

Lord Rooker: I am advised by the Metropolitan Police that details of guns seized as a result of the Operation Trident are not held separately from those of guns recovered in other operations, and that the information is not therefore readily available, without disproportionate cost.

Illegal firearms

The Earl of Shrewsbury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	In the light of the announcements by the chairman of the Metropolitan Police Authority, the Lord Harris of Haringey, and Mr Lee Jasper, adviser to the Mayor of London, that 78 and 130 illegal firearms were seized by the Metropolitan Police in connection with Operation Trident, on what grounds did the Lord Rooker state on 8 January (WA 100) that 62 complete firearms had been seized in connection with this operation; and whether they will state the correct figure.

Lord Rooker: The figure of 62 complete firearms was provided by the Metropolitan Police to the Home Office in response to the noble Earl's earlier Question. It appears that this figure was given under the impression that the Question referred only to guns seized during the year 2001; and excluded some guns which only came to notice when the end-year figures were fully collated, giving a revised total of 78. I understand that the figure of 130 guns seized in connection with the operation since its inception should be taken as authoritative.

Neighbourhood and Street Warden Schemes

Lord Corbett of Castle Vale: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will place in the Library of the House details of existing warden and similar community schemes in operation in England and Wales.

Lord Rooker: I have today placed a list in the Library of the House showing the neighbourhood and street warden schemes in England and Wales that are funded by Her Majesty's Government. The list shows the number of wardens, the areas they operate in and their lead agency.

Security Service: Release of Historical Records

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will release to the public the MI5 records relating to Nazi war crimes and the intelligence gleaned in the interrogation of Nazi war criminals, and in particular those records given to the Office of Strategic Services during and after the Second World War, and recently released into the public domain in the United States under the Nazi War Crimes Disclosure Act 1998.

Lord Rooker: The Security Service is systematically reviewing and if appropriate releasing historical records to the Public Record Office in accordance with the criteria agreed with them and endorsed by the Advisory Council.
	The Security Service has reviewed and released all archived files covering the First World War. In November 2001 the service released its fourth tranche of files on the period of the Second World War. The service is currently reviewing any remaining files from the Second World War and its inter-war records in preparation for further releases. It will then move on to the period after the Second World War. The timing of this depends on the resources that the service is able to devote to the process.

Asylum Applicants: Dependants

Baroness Cox: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many dependants joined applicants for asylum after an initial decision on their case in each of the years 1995 to 2001, and are therefore not included in the published total of asylum seekers.

Lord Rooker: I regret that the information requested is unavailable and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
	Administrative records for applicants for asylum do not necessarily record how many dependants join applicants following initial decisions for a number of reasons. Some applicants leave the United Kingdom following the initial decision and are subsequently joined by dependants outside the United Kingdom, who would not be included in the pubished total. Some dependants may apply for asylum as principal applicants and therefore not be identifiable as dependants of existing or former applicants, but would be included in the published total. Some dependants may apply to enter the United Kingdom for temporary purposes (for example, as a visitor) or apply for settlement within the United Kingdom wihout either identifying that they wish to join a former or current asylum applicant or applying for asylum. These dependants would not be included in the published total of asylum seekers.
	Information on asylum applications and initial decisions is published quarterly on the Home Office website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigrationl/html.

Afghan Asylum Seekers

Baroness Cox: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many of the Afghans who landed at Stansted in February 2000 in a hijacked aircraft are still in Britain; and what is their immigration status.

Lord Rooker: Of the 170 people who arrived on the aircraft, 81 including the flight crew, returned to Afghanistan. Thirteen of the passengers, together with their 21 dependants, have asylum applications that are still undecided. This group includes the convicted hijackers. Thirty passengers with five dependants were refused asylum but remain in the United Kingdom pending the outcome of their appeal to the Immigration Appeals Tribunal. Six passengers and 12 dependants have been granted refugee status; and two passengers wish to return to Afghanistan as soon as suitable travel arrangements can be made.

Asylum Seekers Detained in Northern Ireland

Lord Eames: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many persons were detained in Northern Ireland in the year ending 31 December 2001 while seeking asylum in the United Kingdom; and (b) how many in this category are currently in detention; and
	What was the average length of detention in Northern Ireland of those seeking asylum in the United Kingdom in the year ending December 2001; and
	How many of those seeking asylum in the United Kingdom detained in Northern Ireland in the year ending 31 December 2001 were granted asylum in the United Kingdom.

Lord Rooker: The latest available information on the number of persons detained under Immigration Act powers relates to 30 September 2001. As at that date, there were fewer than five persons who had sought asylum at some stage who were being detained in Northern Ireland.
	I regret that the requested information on the total number of asylum seekers detained in Northern Ireland in 2001, how many of these have been granted asylum, and their average length of detention, is not available and could only be obtained by examining individual case files at disproportionate cost.
	Information on Immigration Act detainees as at 29 December 2001 will be published on 28 February 2002 on the Home Office Research, Development and Statistics Directorate website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigrationl/html.

Unaccompanied Asylum-seeking Children

Baroness Whitaker: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What plans they have to reimburse local authorities for their expenditure on supporting unaccompanied asylum-seeking children.

Lord Rooker: My right honourable friend the Home Secretary has today laid before Parliament a Special Grant Report which sets out the arrangements for reimbursing local authorities in England for the costs of supporting unaccompanied asylum-seeking children (UASC) as a result of their duties under the Children Act 1989.
	The Special Grant Report explains the areas of expenditure which will be eligible for the grant and the time-scales for local authorities to make their claims.
	As my right honourable friend the Home Secretary outlined in the White Paper, we will continue to offer appropriate levels of care to UASC and the Home Office leads the Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children's Stakeholder Group. One key element of this is to ensure that we can sift out adults posing as children and deter those seeking to abuse the system. Home Office staff are already taking steps to challenge older applicants and divert them to the adult asylum process.
	We are exploring opportunities for better sharing of costs across the country and in particular the joint commissioning of the accommodation for unaccompanied minors who are 16 or 17 on arrival. We are already doing more to support local authorities by improving information exchange and UASC will be included as part of the asylum audit. It is important that financial support to local authorities provides fairly for essential needs and encourages good value for money.

Charities and the Voluntary Sector: Support

Lord Elton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Which programmes of work by the Performance and Innovation Unit, the Active Community Unit and the Regional Co-ordination Unit currently in progress or in prospect are directed at supporting the voluntary and charitable sectors; how they relate to each other; what are their intended effects; and when it is expected that they will be achieved. [H
	 Question number missing in Hansard, possibly truncated question.

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: The Performance and Innovation Unit is reviewing the legal and regulatory framework for charities and the voluntary sector. The aims of the review are to enable not-for-profit organisations to thrive; to encourage the development of new types of organisation; and to ensure public confidence in the sector. The review was announced on 3 July 2001 and is expected to report in the spring.
	The Active Community Unit provides funding to voluntary and community organisations that support the development of strong and active communities. For example, over the past year, under the capital modernisation grant programme, some £8 million was invested in 46 local voluntary and community partnership projects to enhance and improve access to services by encouraging co-location, integration and refurbishment of community buildings; £1 million a year is also invested in support of 18 networks to ensure that the voluntary and community sector has a voice at regional level.
	The unit provides some £12 million a year in three-year grants to key national bodies in the voluntary and community sector that support the development of communities.
	The unit is developing proposals for simplifying access to small grants for small voluntary and community groups. My right honourable friend the Home Secretary hopes to publish an action plan in the next few weeks that will provide for the establishment, at local level, of a simplified mechanism for handling all government small grants programmes. The aim is to encourage more people to become involved in their communities and making it easier for them to do so.
	The Regional Co-ordination Unit is undertaking a study to explore how the system of regeneration and community funding could be made more comprehensible to both voluntary and community sector groups as well as small businesses. The study covers regeneration and community funding: that is, resources provided by government and other agencies to support activity which will change the economic, environmental or social state of an area.
	There has been regular dialogue between the units and they work closely together. They aim to recommend a package of reforms that will support the sector as a whole.

Campaign against International Terrorism: MoD Funding

Baroness Thornton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How much money has been made available to the Ministry of Defence for urgent operational requirements for the campaign against international terrorism.

Lord Grocott: We are pleased to announce that the Treasury has agreed to make available from the reserve a further £55 million for urgent operational requirements for the campaign against international terrorism. This is in addition to the £100 million that the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced on 27 November 2001 in his Pre-Budget Report.
	The urgent operational requirements that this funding allows us to meet include: equipment to improve our ability to work with the US and other allies, such as additional secure communications equipment; enhancements to our intelligence capabilities; and a range of small but significant enhancements to our forces for operations in the campaign against international terrorism.